I'm always wary when an exhibition describes itself as "interactive" as to how interactive it will actually be, but "Game On: The Evolution of Video Games" at Stockwood Discovery Centre scores full marks on this.  It is truly interactive, and does exactly what it says on the tin, taking you through the history of video games from the basics of Pong (which was surprisingly difficult on a giant TV) through to the sophistication of the likes of the Wii and beyond, and everything else in between. I visited with my 15-year old son who is a huge gaming fan. 

 

Rather than being a traditional turn-up-anytime exhibition, it is organised into three daily sessions of 1.5 hours each with numbers capped to ensure everyone can enjoy the exhibits.  We booked on the day to go the late afternoon session and that particular sessions certainly didn't feel too full - we were able to have a go at everything on offer and never had to queue as there was always something available to try.  

  

The space is organised in chronological order with with a variety of consoles on display and lots of information boards detailing the history and evolution of each.  And as well as the displays there are lots of live consoles and arcade games that you can play, offering different types of games to try.  The console games are labelled and include their PEGI-rating, and some are multi-player so you can have fun competing against each other. The only thing we found frustrating was that it wasn't obvious how to start/play/control a few of the games that we weren't familiar with, so some labelling to explain this would have improved the experience.   

 

The 90 minutes session went quite quickly, though we were able to have a go at most of the games and read most of the information boards without feeling rushed, but we could have stayed longer. But at a cost of £3.50 (plus £1 booking fee) per person it felt very reasonable.

We think that adults, even those who are not massive gaming fans, will enjoy the fun and nostalgia on offer; and the kids, even if they don't fully appreciate the history on display, are bound to love the fact that they can play video games for an hour and a half! 

Need to know (updated for October half term):

Where: Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton
When: Running 26th October - 3rd November 2024
Cost: £3.50 + £1 booking fee per person
Timeslots: 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm
Duration: 1.5hrs in the exhibition area
Suitable for (our opinion): Ages 7+
Parking: Free
Refreshments: Garden Cafe
Booking link: https://www.culturetrust.com/whats-on/game-evolution-video-games